tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50351462353313157162016-03-03T08:50:19.033-08:00The BlargBeth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-42947530024654402002011-12-04T15:12:00.000-08:002011-12-04T15:15:24.492-08:00Happy Canvent, the merriest holiday of them all.Happy Canvent, everyone!&nbsp; I hope you all enjoying celebrating this special time of year.<br /><br /><br />...<br /><br />What, you don't know what Canvent is?&nbsp; I'm shocked.&nbsp; This holiday deserves a place in history along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludachristmas">Ludachristmas</a> and<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_308164779"> Festivus.</a> <br /><br />Let me tell you a story of the origin of Canvent:&nbsp; Once upon a time, there was a coworker with a very odd mother-in-law.&nbsp; This mother-in-law thought it would be funny to bring a box of canned goods to her future daughter's bridal shower.&nbsp; Yes, a box of canned goods. &nbsp; <u>With the labels ripped off</u>.&nbsp; No other gift.&nbsp; No explanations or game to go along with it---the mother-in-law just laughed and said that it was a common practice.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vyl9L26JN70/Ttv8D4cjV6I/AAAAAAAAAco/vqBZ6PPfHnI/s1600/Canvent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vyl9L26JN70/Ttv8D4cjV6I/AAAAAAAAAco/vqBZ6PPfHnI/s320/Canvent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Nothing says "welcome to the family" like a box of a cans without labels.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So what's a girl to do with a large box of unlabeled canned goods?&nbsp; You can't donate them.&nbsp; You don't really want to eat them...so they sat in her garage until she made a mistake of telling her coworkers about it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-klp4eSSRs/Ttv8qeYn1uI/AAAAAAAAAcw/eX83h2LLLAo/s1600/Canventjulie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-klp4eSSRs/Ttv8qeYn1uI/AAAAAAAAAcw/eX83h2LLLAo/s320/Canventjulie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">And thus Canvent was created.&nbsp; Every day from now until Christmas, our office will open up one can.&nbsp; Bets will be placed on what it contains.&nbsp; If it's not something too disgusting, we may even eat it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The winner of Canvent gets absolutely nothing (except the warm, fuzzy feeling of being right when everyone else is wrong--and really, who doesn't love that?)&nbsp;&nbsp; And the winner of the first day of Canvent is....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_bJdPcVhFOE/Ttv9NgdykoI/AAAAAAAAAc4/anELsqmiryQ/s1600/Canventme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_bJdPcVhFOE/Ttv9NgdykoI/AAAAAAAAAc4/anELsqmiryQ/s320/Canventme.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>It's a gift.&nbsp; And a curse.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Insert pun about manwich and my knowledge of it here.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Canvent, y'all.&nbsp; Maybe Canvent is an elaborate metaphor for how each of us, stripped of our labels, contain wildly different things on the inside.&nbsp; Or maybe it's just a good excuse to be thankful that no matter what, your mother-in-law has never given you the gift of unlabeled cans.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Unless, of course, you happen to be my coworker.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span id="goog_308164785"></span><span id="goog_308164786"></span>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-7597600166429995462011-11-28T18:00:00.000-08:002011-11-28T18:52:25.667-08:00You can’t go home again. But you can always feel like an awkward, moody teenager.<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">High school wasn’t bad for me.&nbsp; It wasn’t great, either.&nbsp; I had my share of unreasonable teenage angst and questionable fashion decisions.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahK6H0Aopf8/TtQ512yhV7I/AAAAAAAAAcU/IoGqS4RQ5UY/s1600/beth+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahK6H0Aopf8/TtQ512yhV7I/AAAAAAAAAcU/IoGqS4RQ5UY/s320/beth+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I went to a large high school.&nbsp; While I wasn’t one of the cool kids, it never bothered me because I had friends who were just as uncool as I was.&nbsp; I was an odd combination of nerd and wannabe arty rebel—think National Honors Society, editor of the literary magazine, a bit of backstage theater work, ska-and-punk music lover, and a horse wrangler for a Girl Scout camp on occasional weekends.&nbsp; Plus, I was weird and awkward.&nbsp; I once wore a pair of pants with battery powered Christmas lights decorating the outside seams, and I tended to read novels behind my text books.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I keep in touch with a couple people from my high school, as we went to college together and remained friends.&nbsp;&nbsp; When I got the invitation to my ten year high school reunion, I had two simultaneous thoughts.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">1)<i> Ten years?&nbsp; That can’t be right. I’m fairly certain I’m still like 26.&nbsp; I know I’ve been 26 for a few years now, but it’s a good age.</i>&nbsp;</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">2) <i>Sparkles and I can go together, and we can get drunk and make snarky comments.&nbsp; And that is what reunions are truly about.</i></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">After I bought the ticket to the reunion, I found out that the ever illustrious Sparkles had to work—and she has the type of job that you can never, ever, call in sick unless you are already dead from the plague.&nbsp; My other friend lives across the country and wasn’t about to spend $500 on a plane ticket just for a reunion.&nbsp; So I was stuck flying solo.</span> <span style="font-size: small;">I considered bringing my husband but tickets were $60.&nbsp; And while I thought that I may be able to have $60 worth of fun, it was unlikely that my introvert husband would have an additional $60 worth of fun with people he had never met.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was strangely nervous about the whole thing.&nbsp; Batman pointed out that it was highly unlikely I would be made fun of, as we were all adults now.&nbsp; I reminded him that with copious amounts of alcohol, anything was possible. &nbsp; </span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Low points of the evening:</b></u>&nbsp; Two people called me by the wrong name.&nbsp; Including our guidance counselor.</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>High points of the evening</b></u>:&nbsp; It was actually cool to see everyone all grown up.&nbsp; Most people seemed about the same (which is a scary thought in itself) except, you know, older.&nbsp; There was no snobbery going on, and while everyone kind of gravitated towards people they knew, I spoke to almost everyone there.&nbsp; There was a constant litany of the same three questions:&nbsp; <i>What do you do?&nbsp; Where do you live/have you ever left the city?&nbsp; Do you have a family?</i></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm glad I went.&nbsp; When I got home, Batman asked me how it went.&nbsp; I told him it was fun--and assured him that none of my high school crushes were remotely attractive anymore.&nbsp; </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-78420443026523073122011-11-22T18:44:00.000-08:002011-11-22T18:45:08.132-08:00One down, a hundred and twenty seven crafts to go.You know how I had <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2011/11/craftoholic.html">a million and one crafts I wanted to make</a>?<br /><br />I finished one!&nbsp; That's a start at least.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tc_ijHmOa0U/TsxcGYnySdI/AAAAAAAAAbs/9MA8AwVh33Q/s1600/November+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tc_ijHmOa0U/TsxcGYnySdI/AAAAAAAAAbs/9MA8AwVh33Q/s400/November+023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is my fishing game, inspired from <a href="http://blissfullydomestic.com/fun-bliss/crafts-fun-bliss/make-a-homemade-magnetic-fishing-game/73340/">this blog </a>I found through Pinterest.&nbsp; I used a thin rope rather than twine or leather for the fishing line, but other than that I followed those instructions pretty closely.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zktVVCUpfOc/TsxcHSmlkGI/AAAAAAAAAb0/jW4TXIo_kkc/s1600/November+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zktVVCUpfOc/TsxcHSmlkGI/AAAAAAAAAb0/jW4TXIo_kkc/s400/November+021.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mo-mo the toddler approves.&nbsp; Fat Mar-mar the cat approves. (See the paw?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6X_Bily3H_c/TsxcIWWaFeI/AAAAAAAAAb8/hv7vQmEbQK0/s1600/November+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6X_Bily3H_c/TsxcIWWaFeI/AAAAAAAAAb8/hv7vQmEbQK0/s320/November+022.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After watching Mar-mar eat the fish, Mo-mo wondered how they tasted.&nbsp; She was disappointed that they didn't taste like Goldfish crackers.</div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-70784045938694052882011-11-20T13:58:00.000-08:002011-11-20T14:00:47.440-08:00Cheese, Gromit.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ClNkHcV2qRM/Tsl1tFOO12I/AAAAAAAAAbU/F2mQ_ZAvHZY/s1600/November+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ClNkHcV2qRM/Tsl1tFOO12I/AAAAAAAAAbU/F2mQ_ZAvHZY/s320/November+024.jpg" width="320" /></a>I love Barbara Kingsolver's novels.&nbsp; I really enjoyed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poisonwood-Bible-Novel-P-S/dp/0061577073/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321825008&amp;sr=8-4">The Poisonwood Bible</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Summer-Novel-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/0060959037/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321825008&amp;sr=8-3">Prodigal Summer</a>.&nbsp; I picked up her memoir about eating local, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Vegetable-Miracle-Year-Food/dp/0060852569/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321825008&amp;sr=8-1">Animal, Vegetable, Miracle</a>, expecting to love it.&nbsp; Instead I learned that while Ms. Kingsolver can write beautiful and lyrical descriptions of her garden, she's a bit of a sanctimonious prig when it comes to food.&nbsp; Who knew?<br /><br />The one upside of this book is that it got me interested in making my own cheese from scratch.&nbsp; I love cheese.&nbsp; I also love making things from scratch.&nbsp; Seems like a perfect fit!&nbsp; Ms. Kingsolver claimed that cheese-making was easy, the directions online I found claimed that it was easy--but when I sat down to try and figure out how to actually do it, I couldn't make heads or tails of it.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oW32fqXlmqE/Tsl1wvlC7KI/AAAAAAAAAbc/m9KA_QG3c3I/s1600/November+026.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oW32fqXlmqE/Tsl1wvlC7KI/AAAAAAAAAbc/m9KA_QG3c3I/s320/November+026.jpg" width="320" /></a>Never one to give up, I found that there is someone local who teaches classes on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1670833261">how to make chees</a><a href="http://e./">e.</a>&nbsp; I somehow conned my father, <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/07/bald-psycho-aka-evil-dr-porkchop-aka.html">Evil Dr. Porkchop</a>, into taking it the class with me.&nbsp; Lo and behold, we learned to make cheese.&nbsp; It simply requires a) milk&nbsp;&nbsp; b) some random stuff like bacteria cultures and rennet c) time.&nbsp; While not exactly rocket science, I don't think I would classify it as easy.<br /><br />During the four hour class we learned how to make chevre, ricotta, feta, yogurt and a basic hard cheese.&nbsp; More importantly, we got to eat cheese.&nbsp; We were also given a nice booklet with instructions.&nbsp; As soon as I can get my hands on some raw goat or cow's milk, I'm ready to make the easier cheeses--feta and chevre.&nbsp; Fancy!&nbsp; <br /><br />I didn't take any photos of the process because I was too busy paying attention and the booklet had great pictures.&nbsp; However, here are some photos of the goats.&nbsp; Do you think Batman would be mad if I adopted a couple?&nbsp; They could keep the lawn in the backyard trimmed and our dogs could herd them.&nbsp; <br /><br />Fresh cheese or not, I don't think Batman would be okay with that plan.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-43634143920632372722011-11-09T17:24:00.000-08:002011-11-09T17:24:25.297-08:00Parental Misunderstandings.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2S6FkEhUZIY/Trslv8mUG3I/AAAAAAAAAZY/AYvQfkZ-ec8/s1600/010511_ba_toilet_amstd01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2S6FkEhUZIY/Trslv8mUG3I/AAAAAAAAAZY/AYvQfkZ-ec8/s1600/010511_ba_toilet_amstd01.jpg" /></a></div><br />My friend Shortstuff recently confessed to me that way back when Mo-mo was first born, she misunderstood something that I said.&nbsp; And she was way too polite and grossed out to ask me to clarify.<br /><br />We were talking on the phone, and Batman called to me from the other room.&nbsp; <i>Hold on, </i>I said, <i>Batman is calling me.&nbsp; </i>I listened to what he had to say.&nbsp; <i>I have to go</i>, I told her. <i>Batman needs my help.&nbsp; There's a poop emergency. &nbsp;</i><br /><i> </i><br />Being that Mo-mo was fairly small, what I thought I conveyed was that Mo-mo had managed (as young babies do) to poop through the side of her diaper and Batman needed a hand getting her gross onesie off and giving her a quick bath.&nbsp;<br /><i></i><br />What Shortstuff thought I meant was that <i><b>Batman</b></i> was having a poop emergency.&nbsp; And she was rather alarmed and confused, having no idea 1) how a grown man could have a poop emergency and 2) what sort of help I could lend my husband during said poop emergency.&nbsp; <br /><br />I am actually impressed that she was able to look him in the eye after that.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-68440527780335330622011-11-05T14:19:00.000-07:002011-11-22T18:39:58.760-08:00Craftoholic.I'm fairly crafty.&nbsp; I made my daughter's awesome Halloween costume.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-leL6rJIUb-U/TrWWiZUtofI/AAAAAAAAAXA/R1zaoQKaXNw/s1600/October+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-leL6rJIUb-U/TrWWiZUtofI/AAAAAAAAAXA/R1zaoQKaXNw/s320/October+065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A lot of people told me how cute <b>he</b> looked.&nbsp; I decided that it wasn't the right time to lecture about gender stereotypes.&nbsp; Also, she did look adorable</span>.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />I've made <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/06/crafty-like-fox.html">numerous</a> <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/04/taggie-toys-again.html">taggie</a> <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/02/34-taggie-toy.html">toys</a>, home <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2011/09/coordinating.html">decorations</a>, and I rock at cross-stitching.&nbsp; But for every project I complete, there is at least three that I get very excited about, buy the materials, then don't finish.<br /><br />I thought this blog entry would serve as a combination of confession/reminder/guilting myself into completing these.&nbsp; Here are my list of the crafts waiting for me to get off my butt and make.<br /><br /><b>1)&nbsp; Fishing set.&nbsp; </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNONWBWhIkw/TrWYnKLGogI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/D1wJRmcp3q0/s1600/November+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNONWBWhIkw/TrWYnKLGogI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/D1wJRmcp3q0/s320/November+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>my materials</i></span></div><br />I got the idea from <a href="http://blissfullydomestic.com/fun-bliss/crafts-fun-bliss/make-a-homemade-magnetic-fishing-game/73340/">this blog</a>, found on Pinterest.&nbsp; (Can we pause for a moment and talk about how awesome Pinterest is?&nbsp; Yes, it is amazing.&nbsp; I'm in love.)<br /><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>about a week.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>2) Apron from a scarf.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Rcyesnb6is/TrWaETJG84I/AAAAAAAAAX4/VLoSN177e-8/s1600/November+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Rcyesnb6is/TrWaETJG84I/AAAAAAAAAX4/VLoSN177e-8/s320/November+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Pretty scarf, no?&nbsp; I found it at the thrift store.&nbsp; I've been wanting to make an apron (I make a huge mess when when I bake) and I thought it would be fun to use it for that.<br /><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>about three months<br /><br /><br /><b>3) Felt Food.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U4ouT4Bh0xA/TrWa0RU1jLI/AAAAAAAAAYA/D1QBMiFICYg/s1600/November+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U4ouT4Bh0xA/TrWa0RU1jLI/AAAAAAAAAYA/D1QBMiFICYg/s320/November+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />As you can see, I made one little piece of felt food.&nbsp; It turned out adorable--but I'm very slow at hand sewing.&nbsp; I bought enough felt to make at least 15 more pieces of food for Mo-mo's play kitchen.<br /><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>about four months<br /><br /><br /><b>4) A baby quilt.</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Id9J0t18Bc/TrWjs8H7hNI/AAAAAAAAAY4/jbZ0IqzFMHo/s1600/November+010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Id9J0t18Bc/TrWjs8H7hNI/AAAAAAAAAY4/jbZ0IqzFMHo/s320/November+010.jpg" width="320" /></a><b> </b></div><br />This is one of those crafts that I started with the best of intentions.&nbsp; My aunt makes beautiful quilts and often donates them to the hospital for babies in the ICU.&nbsp; I thought it would be a wonderful project...and I only did about 1/2 of it.&nbsp; Again, the hand sewing thing slowed me down.<br /><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>about a year <br /><br /><b>5) The Lorax Toybox.</b> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fBfn1J7P6ho/TrWZIOk3AgI/AAAAAAAAAXo/sK298OOFr6A/s1600/November+001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fBfn1J7P6ho/TrWZIOk3AgI/AAAAAAAAAXo/sK298OOFr6A/s320/November+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Cyt_h-xny8/TrWZSPxkeNI/AAAAAAAAAXw/RcR3mZtNZ9U/s1600/November+002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Cyt_h-xny8/TrWZSPxkeNI/AAAAAAAAAXw/RcR3mZtNZ9U/s320/November+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It needs hinges.&nbsp; And paint.&nbsp; And more paint.&nbsp; And even more paint.&nbsp; I started this without realizing that I would have to prime it, paint the background several times, paint the trim several times (it's going to be bright purple), paint the scenes, paint the black lines in the little scenes, then polyurethane it.&nbsp; I got about halfway done with painting it outside before it started raining, and I just never returned to it. I am embarrassed to admit that I use it to keep unfinished craft projects in.&nbsp; <br /><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>about a year and a half<br /><br /><b>6) A knitted...something.</b> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vfsm69VTnQI/TrWjqAW7GxI/AAAAAAAAAYo/czB2OgaIXak/s320/November+008.jpg" width="240" /></div><br />This is a....scarf, potholder, square.&nbsp; Take your pick.&nbsp; I learned <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/07/knit-wit.html">how to knit</a> then never actually made anything.&nbsp; I'm kind of scared to finish it because I don't know how to cast off.&nbsp; Or on again, if I want to make something else.<br /><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>about a year and a half<br /><br /><b>7) Purse made from a book.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPfY7GLqvnA/TrWb2hl1e8I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/okW9Di0p1fk/s1600/548279927_e20316b096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPfY7GLqvnA/TrWb2hl1e8I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/okW9Di0p1fk/s320/548279927_e20316b096.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Inspiration from <a href="http://www.hungrypanda.net/blog/2010/02/book-purse-tutorial/">this</a> blog</i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRAdlT1wsAI/TrWbT9NTqdI/AAAAAAAAAYI/c-jDOfuPuQU/s1600/November+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRAdlT1wsAI/TrWbT9NTqdI/AAAAAAAAAYI/c-jDOfuPuQU/s320/November+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>my materials</i></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have the materials.&nbsp; I even gutted out a poor book specifically bought for that purpose (The Last Days of Pompeii).&nbsp; (oh, and I saved the pages--I figure there has to be something I can do with them.&nbsp; I have major guilt about ripping up a book.)&nbsp; I just haven't made the darn thing yet.</span></span><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>about two years </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>8) Hair ribbons for Mo-mo</b></span>.<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><i> </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Id9J0t18Bc/TrWjs8H7hNI/AAAAAAAAAY4/jbZ0IqzFMHo/s1600/November+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5p3Tgf_TZeQ/TrWjrBQZ1mI/AAAAAAAAAYw/-khw51CNi6Y/s1600/November+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5p3Tgf_TZeQ/TrWjrBQZ1mI/AAAAAAAAAYw/-khw51CNi6Y/s320/November+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Mo-mo was about six months old, I bought some adorable ribbon with the intention of making cutesy bows for her.&nbsp; I quickly realized that she would only keep barrettes in her hair for about 30 seconds.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>over two years </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onhjQf_WS4I/TrWjubsjpEI/AAAAAAAAAZA/_zA0FkAHFYI/s1600/November+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>8) The perfect Easter basket</b>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c62_HAuF-sA/TrWjvhdK0FI/AAAAAAAAAZI/2CIO0RTWH9c/s1600/November+012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c62_HAuF-sA/TrWjvhdK0FI/AAAAAAAAAZI/2CIO0RTWH9c/s320/November+012.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Apparently, finding an Easter basket for Mo-mo that I like (for a reasonable price) was too difficult.&nbsp; So I bought one that I kind of like and was going to paint it and re-line it with new fabric.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>over two years&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>9) Portraits of my animals.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onhjQf_WS4I/TrWjubsjpEI/AAAAAAAAAZA/_zA0FkAHFYI/s1600/November+011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onhjQf_WS4I/TrWjubsjpEI/AAAAAAAAAZA/_zA0FkAHFYI/s320/November+011.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onhjQf_WS4I/TrWjubsjpEI/AAAAAAAAAZA/_zA0FkAHFYI/s1600/November+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I made the one of Odin and it hangs in our kitchen.&nbsp; Still need to paint Athena and Fat Mar-mar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>over two years </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>10) A corset.&nbsp; Crap, this is embarassing.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T5Yr0CUly0U/TrWjn7518dI/AAAAAAAAAYY/YZY6aagO9kY/s1600/November+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T5Yr0CUly0U/TrWjn7518dI/AAAAAAAAAYY/YZY6aagO9kY/s320/November+005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3eMHAa7CNpU/TrWjpTZJnpI/AAAAAAAAAYg/1CNLR7qa9xU/s1600/November+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3eMHAa7CNpU/TrWjpTZJnpI/AAAAAAAAAYg/1CNLR7qa9xU/s320/November+06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>&nbsp;Pleather?&nbsp; What was I thinking?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I cannot tell you for the life of me why I wanted to sew a corset.&nbsp; I know it was for a costume of some kind--pirate wench, maybe?.&nbsp; I've never sewn anything from a pattern before--and a corset with eyelets and boning and everything is tricky.&nbsp; Plus I bought a ton of ridiculous faux leather and brocade, neither of which are particularly easy to work with.&nbsp; I'm going to chalk this one up to being young and dumb and find something else to do with the material.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Time I have been meaning to make this:&nbsp; </b>over four years.&nbsp; Well, I probably actually wanted to make it for a week.&nbsp; Then I realized how difficult it was.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onhjQf_WS4I/TrWjubsjpEI/AAAAAAAAAZA/_zA0FkAHFYI/s1600/November+011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-8538199642073575352011-10-10T16:13:00.000-07:002011-10-10T16:14:32.571-07:00The coolest costume. Ever.This is by far one of the coolest things I have ever made. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xyP-5orWFrY/TpNwEDkQlSI/AAAAAAAAAV8/6HgSAgORoaA/s1600/October+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xyP-5orWFrY/TpNwEDkQlSI/AAAAAAAAAV8/6HgSAgORoaA/s320/October+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Mo-mo is going to be a train engineer for Halloween--complete with a little red wagon made to look like a train.<br /><br /><b><u>Materials</u></b><br /><ul><li>cardboard.&nbsp; Lots of cardboard</li><li>exacto knife</li><li>sharp scissors</li><li>glue gun</li><li>duct tape</li><li> PVC pipe (I used 1/2 inch)</li><li>PVC pipe cutters</li><li>spray paint- red, black and yellow matte</li><li>empty corn meal can, but almost any can would work</li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr7-6Y-o-78/TpNyovvAJoI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RAflxCNN9Ik/s1600/October+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr7-6Y-o-78/TpNyovvAJoI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RAflxCNN9Ik/s320/October+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I started out with two large flat pieces of cardboard, both divided in thirds.&nbsp; I cut out half of the middle portion on each.&nbsp; I added windows to one piece (see above).&nbsp; Then I nestled them together like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr7-6Y-o-78/TpNyovvAJoI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RAflxCNN9Ik/s1600/October+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVs3Wm9qB_I/TpNy-C90m-I/AAAAAAAAAWE/ZGgPbnzZRbc/s1600/October+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVs3Wm9qB_I/TpNy-C90m-I/AAAAAAAAAWE/ZGgPbnzZRbc/s320/October+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I hot-glued and duct-taped the two pieces together.&nbsp; I even trimmed the windows with duct tape because my exact-o knife skills are not too hot.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nl2Qm1LDY68/TpNzVGUDgoI/AAAAAAAAAWI/l_6Ouf_qX4U/s1600/October+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nl2Qm1LDY68/TpNzVGUDgoI/AAAAAAAAAWI/l_6Ouf_qX4U/s320/October+005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Next, I had to figure out a way to get it to mount on the wagon.&nbsp; That's where the PVC pipe comes in handy.&nbsp; I cut small X's in the cardboard and fed a PVC pipe through the bottom, so that it would have a way to sit on the wagon.&nbsp; I reinforced it with duct-tape.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TAFCvt_CpmY/TpN1bE8kFOI/AAAAAAAAAWM/UESHWb3M41o/s1600/October+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TAFCvt_CpmY/TpN1bE8kFOI/AAAAAAAAAWM/UESHWb3M41o/s320/October+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Cutting PVC pipe is incredibly easy with one of these gizmos.&nbsp; $10 from Lowe's.&nbsp; Is it weird that I'm looking forward to using it for future projects?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1_HVLXmcRU/TpN17BtfAJI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/jZ_N7E_6dHc/s1600/October+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1_HVLXmcRU/TpN17BtfAJI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/jZ_N7E_6dHc/s320/October+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Next, I reinforced the corners of the window unit with PVC pipe.&nbsp; Unfortunately, I don't have a very good picture of it.&nbsp; I simply measured it, cut it, then duct-taped and hot-glued it in place.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21X2yH2Qgs0/TpN4SxDiAHI/AAAAAAAAAWU/E1ZhmQjkAi0/s1600/October+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21X2yH2Qgs0/TpN4SxDiAHI/AAAAAAAAAWU/E1ZhmQjkAi0/s320/October+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Notice that the roof and front of the train is missing? I used those pieces that I cut out (to make them fit together) and both duct taped and hot glued it all together.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHYm0nBrFDw/TpN5s8tWR6I/AAAAAAAAAWY/s6SqDWcwCuA/s1600/October+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHYm0nBrFDw/TpN5s8tWR6I/AAAAAAAAAWY/s6SqDWcwCuA/s320/October+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--iQ1xxnUgko/TpN5ybw2kQI/AAAAAAAAAWc/Qt6TcAZaAyQ/s1600/October+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;This is what it looked like before the painting/final touches were put on.&nbsp; I let Mo-mo give it a spin to make sure it worked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I spray painted it red (two coats letting it dry at least 3 hours between)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--iQ1xxnUgko/TpN5ybw2kQI/AAAAAAAAAWc/Qt6TcAZaAyQ/s1600/October+009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--iQ1xxnUgko/TpN5ybw2kQI/AAAAAAAAAWc/Qt6TcAZaAyQ/s320/October+009.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvvSn5QFik8/TpN7ikKvwvI/AAAAAAAAAWs/j600vDfFCSY/s1600/October+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvvSn5QFik8/TpN7ikKvwvI/AAAAAAAAAWs/j600vDfFCSY/s320/October+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I drew and cut out the wheels, spokes, wheel attach-thingies (no idea what they are actually called), a bit larger of a roof, a cattle-guard, and a light for the front.&nbsp; I then spray painted them along with the corn meal can for a smoke stack (again, two coats), let them dry.&nbsp; Lastly I hot-glued it all together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uz_-Sq9ieRE/TpN7QMNp5CI/AAAAAAAAAWo/jiih1CzeaHo/s1600/October+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uz_-Sq9ieRE/TpN7QMNp5CI/AAAAAAAAAWo/jiih1CzeaHo/s320/October+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know it's not going to last forever--I'm not even going to show the finished product to Mo-mo until Halloween.&nbsp; But I think it will last at least for that evening and she may even get to play with it inside for awhile. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>I'll be sure to post photos of her on Halloween!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keC78z2HQEI/TpN53VErkPI/AAAAAAAAAWg/hIMZUovYd1Q/s1600/October+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OB1KxNRuOeg/TpN59trt_LI/AAAAAAAAAWk/u_MwcR5EY8g/s1600/October+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-63008608757427116662011-10-04T13:51:00.000-07:002011-10-04T13:53:31.475-07:00The List.Hey, remember when I <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2009/11/checking-it-twice.html">made a list of 101 things to do in a 1001 days</a> and did them all?<br /><br />Yeah, me neither.&nbsp; To be fair, I have another year.&nbsp; I've completed 30 out of 101.&nbsp; Hmmm.&nbsp; Not doing so hot.<br /><br />Since I've last looked at the list, I've completed:<br /><br /><strong>9. Start a college fund for Mo-mo </strong>Totally makes me feel like an adult.<br /><br /><strong>15. Go trick or treating with Mo-mo</strong>&nbsp; Gnomish cuteness.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRaQdKiqLsQ/TotuLwz9K5I/AAAAAAAAAVw/F8t8t0kW30Y/s1600/gnome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRaQdKiqLsQ/TotuLwz9K5I/AAAAAAAAAVw/F8t8t0kW30Y/s320/gnome.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><strong>20. Join a mommy group </strong>When I was between jobs, I met an awesome group of SAHM mom's from the neighborhood.<br /><br /><strong>25. </strong><a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/07/knit-wit.html"><strong>Learn to knit</strong></a><strong>&nbsp; </strong>Kind of?&nbsp; I learned, but mostly forgot.&nbsp; <br /><br /><strong>47. Spend the night at the Lemp Mansion&nbsp; </strong>Alas, no ghosts.&nbsp; Just a very uncomfortable creaky bed and an interesting old house.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onbR0z7tK9c/Totvle-RXmI/AAAAAAAAAV0/lJSeDuD3pUM/s1600/lemp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onbR0z7tK9c/Totvle-RXmI/AAAAAAAAAV0/lJSeDuD3pUM/s320/lemp.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><strong>&nbsp; </strong><br /><br /><strong>53. See something at the Fox Theatre&nbsp; </strong>Wicked.&nbsp; Yeah. (Note:&nbsp;Wicked as in the actual musical we saw, not the Bostonian adjective.&nbsp; But it was pretty wicked.)<br /><br /><strong>57. Do something amazingly special for our 5th wedding anniversary.&nbsp; </strong>See above--we went to the Lemp Mansion<br /><br /><strong>63. Start an herb garden </strong>Really?&nbsp; This was a goal?&nbsp; Huh.&nbsp; I planted an herb garden, but I thought it was on a whim.&nbsp; Oh well.&nbsp; Still counts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--T54vePsa3Q/Totv7YtEG_I/AAAAAAAAAV4/sBEF7UPWsZE/s1600/herb+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--T54vePsa3Q/Totv7YtEG_I/AAAAAAAAAV4/sBEF7UPWsZE/s320/herb+garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><strong>66. Purchase a matching set of living room furniture&nbsp; </strong>Thanks, Craigslist.<br /><br /><strong>84. Clean out everything from my room at parent's house</strong>.&nbsp; Thanks, random basement flood.&nbsp; Wait, I think there may be a couple things still in that closet.&nbsp; <br /><br /><strong>98. Purchase a new car for Batman&nbsp; </strong>He is riding in style with his new Honda.&nbsp; And by "in style", I mean that his bumper is no longer duct-taped to the car and he has air conditioning. <br /><br /><strong>100. Find a "mommy friend"&nbsp; </strong>Got several of them.&nbsp; Hooray!&nbsp; Friends, keep procreating.<br /><br /><br />I have to fess up--There are two that I did.&nbsp; Then undid.<br /><br /><strong>80.&nbsp; Get at least 25 followers to my blog.&nbsp; </strong><br />Back when I was blogging regularly and had it under the original title of "The Whole Mommy Thing", this was true.&nbsp; Then I got impatient and <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2011/04/tumblr-and-i-dont-get-along-and-i-read.html">tried to switch platforms and realized that I suck at trying to code things so went back</a> but didn't realize that it got rid of all of my followers.&nbsp; So yeah.&nbsp; <br /><br /><strong>101. For every goal I accomplish, put away $10. When it hits Sept 19, 2012 do something fun with that money.&nbsp; </strong><br />See, last year when Batman and I had both just graduated from school, we were broke. We're still broke but less broke than we were then.&nbsp; My parent's took us on <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/08/only-with-white-sand-instead-of-white.html">an amazing vacation to Cozumel</a>.&nbsp; I had $200 or so saved up.&nbsp; We broke the piggy bank and spent it on fun crap in Cozumel instead of waiting.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-42301473621186702112011-09-20T15:29:00.000-07:002011-09-20T17:19:54.212-07:00Coordinating.My house can best be described as "eclectic".&nbsp; Because that sounds a hell of a lot nicer than "third-hand furniture and crap that doesn't match".<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I love my junk.&nbsp; I love my stuffed piranha that my grandparents got from Brazil, I love my eight bookshelves of novels alphabetized by author, I love my large framed painting that Batman says looks like "gorilla butts". <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sULk93xBX8A/TnkNM33vt6I/AAAAAAAAAU8/-xJZCeAfmQk/s1600/horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sULk93xBX8A/TnkNM33vt6I/AAAAAAAAAU8/-xJZCeAfmQk/s320/horses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Horses, people.&nbsp; Not gorilla butts, not plums.&nbsp; Don't hate on the Franz Marc</span>.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More and more, I start looking around when I'm at people's houses--people my age, not "grown-ups" (we are not going to discuss how I don't consider myself a grown-up yet) and their stuff actually <i>matches.</i>&nbsp; Their kitchen furniture is a matching set--not a table from a thrift store that is embarrassing looking without a tablecloth, two folding chairs, and two chairs that I painted turquoise on a whim and are falling apart. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am never going to have a pristine, beautiful museum of house.&nbsp; It's not my style.&nbsp; I really do love eclectic decorations, bright colors, and unusual paintings.&nbsp; I think homes should be comfortable--you shouldn't be constantly afraid you're going to break something or dirty something up.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Still...I'm starting to tackle the little things and make an attempt to coordinate.&nbsp; I've started with our bathroom.&nbsp; I got rid of the accumulated clutter left over from the last three bathrooms we had--the trash can, the soap dispenser, etc. and bought an inexpensive but matching set of turquoise accessories from Target.&nbsp; I also made these:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBRsoK2p7XI/TnkQv_3EJzI/AAAAAAAAAVM/vuusVfDwdKI/s1600/September+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBRsoK2p7XI/TnkQv_3EJzI/AAAAAAAAAVM/vuusVfDwdKI/s320/September+021.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They are darling, no?&nbsp; And they were ridiculously easy to make.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1.&nbsp; I bought frames from a thrift store.&nbsp; $1.25 each</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3O53BGwH-Q/TnkRN9eUExI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/1sI8DUXOBGg/s1600/September+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3O53BGwH-Q/TnkRN9eUExI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/1sI8DUXOBGg/s320/September+016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2.&nbsp; I spray-painted them.&nbsp; I did another frame at the same time with a different color--the high-gloss of the royal blue turned out better than the matte finish of the other one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pMmRy-JNRXU/TnkSCEzcs6I/AAAAAAAAAVc/nqKDJ0gLvsg/s1600/September+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pMmRy-JNRXU/TnkSCEzcs6I/AAAAAAAAAVc/nqKDJ0gLvsg/s320/September+023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3.&nbsp; I used Google images to find "octopus silhouette" and "shark silhouette" and copy and pasted the ones I liked into a Word document.&nbsp; I re-sized them to fit inside of the frame and printed them out.&nbsp; I cut it out and used it to trace the shape onto scrapbook paper.&nbsp; Pay no attention to the bird, that's for a different project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcUj10uhKzM/TnkSj7lGOgI/AAAAAAAAAVg/HdDYVmJr2qc/s1600/September+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcUj10uhKzM/TnkSj7lGOgI/AAAAAAAAAVg/HdDYVmJr2qc/s320/September+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4.&nbsp; Cut out the scrapbook paper silhouettes, rubber cemented them onto a piece of card stock cut to size, and framed them.&nbsp; Viola!&nbsp; I have art that matches my the colors of my bathroom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xw8a0BJ3miQ/TnkTeLZm2TI/AAAAAAAAAVs/DQZeKNkLkso/s1600/September+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xw8a0BJ3miQ/TnkTeLZm2TI/AAAAAAAAAVs/DQZeKNkLkso/s320/September+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z6d97pHtzGA/TnkTYUii2YI/AAAAAAAAAVo/IkBj46Xr_3M/s1600/September+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z6d97pHtzGA/TnkTYUii2YI/AAAAAAAAAVo/IkBj46Xr_3M/s320/September+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now if only getting a new set of kitchen furniture was this easy...</div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-91083798535847266532011-09-15T19:28:00.000-07:002011-09-15T19:28:47.068-07:00Sexism, McDonald's, and over-thinking the whole shebangWhen I ordered the Happy Meal tonight at McDonald's, the cashier asked me, "Boy or girl?"&nbsp; My response:&nbsp; "Girl.&nbsp; I mean boy.&nbsp; I want the boy toy."<br /><br />Because, quite frankly, the girl toy sucks.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/339776/thumbs/s-SKECHERS-TWINKLE-TOES-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/339776/thumbs/s-SKECHERS-TWINKLE-TOES-large.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Really, McDonald's?&nbsp; This is the best you can do?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>&nbsp;</i>It is a small replica of Skechers shoe that lights up.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How in the world do you play with it?&nbsp; Do you pretend it's flying?&nbsp; Maybe pretend that it is looking for its other half?&nbsp; Nah.&nbsp; You watch it light up, clip it to a purse, and say how pretty it is.&nbsp; Maybe you're inspired to start begging for some real shoes like it.&nbsp; It's so....passive.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The boy toy is pretty cool.&nbsp; They are a series of Batman figurines.&nbsp; We got Joker--his lapel squirts water, so I'm just going to toss him in with the tub toys.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ooqN7aTjL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ooqN7aTjL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Waaaaay cooler.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been thinking a lot about "boy" vs. "girl" toys and clothes.&nbsp; I grew up with two brothers.&nbsp; I played with their GI Joe's, they played with Barbies--but we only wanted to play if we could be the "right" gender.&nbsp; (I had one small GI Jane and a helmeted GI Joe I insisted was a girl, my brothers played with Ken.)&nbsp; I had a set of Legos I adored, but only felt comfortable playing with them because they were pink.&nbsp; This wasn't a mindset that my parents encouraged in any way, it was just something that I decided.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love shopping for Mo-mo.&nbsp; Pink, purple, ruffles and hair bows can be fun.&nbsp; But I also like <a href="http://www.target.com/p/Back-to-the-Future-Infant-Toddler-Boys-Long-Sleeve-Tee-Red/-/A-13696646">Back To The Future</a> shirts.&nbsp; I think monsters, trains, and dogs should be for girls too.&nbsp; Orange, green, and blue are great colors.&nbsp; And do you know how hard it is to find a girl's shirt with an "I love my mommy" sentiment?&nbsp; Nigh impossible to find.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Mo-mo is an awesome mix of girly-girl and tom boy.&nbsp; She loves playing outside, playing with balls, and trains.&nbsp; She also loves high heels, her purse, jewelry, make-up, dancing, and playing with her baby dolls.<br /><br />My biggest worry is that world will box Mo-mo in.&nbsp; I don't ever want her to feel as if she has to pick something or behave a certain way because she's a girl.&nbsp; She can choose soccer over ballet, green over pink, airplanes over princesses.&nbsp; Or not.&nbsp; I want it to be her choice.&nbsp; The moment she tells me that she would prefer the girl toy, I will let her have it (barring anything <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bratz">Bratz </a>related). &nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Until then, she can have the Joker figurine.&nbsp; Because really....a light-up shoe?&nbsp; It's lame.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-25296486392954027662011-09-02T09:47:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:59:07.645-07:00Tea, Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MyClX6Ws1b0/TmEDGEk0WRI/AAAAAAAAAUw/aAbu3T_DWHw/s1600/tea.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MyClX6Ws1b0/TmEDGEk0WRI/AAAAAAAAAUw/aAbu3T_DWHw/s1600/tea.bmp" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />My two-year old daughter loves hot tea.<br /><br />I found out this curious fact last winter, as I was sipping my morning cup of Earl Gray.&nbsp; Momo climbed on my lap and demanded some.&nbsp; I figured it would be one of those things where she has a sip, makes a face, and never bothers me again about it.&nbsp; <br /><br />She had her sip and her eyes lit up.&nbsp; "More, more, MORE!"<br /><br />I had created a monster.<br /><br />Before the internets starts to judge me too harshly, let me tell you this--she only gets very weak decaffeinated tea, lukewarm&nbsp;with tons of milk, and only as an occasional treat.&nbsp; I no longer drink my morning tea at home because I refuse to let her have it very frequently.<br /><br />Last week, my family went out to breakfast to celebrate my father's 60th birthday.&nbsp; There were coffee cups on the tables at the restaurant and so my daughter started asking for tea.<br /><br />"Let me ask if they have decaf," was my answer.<br /><br />She slumped down in her high chair and started pitifully moaning as if she were in physical pain.&nbsp; "Deeeeeeeeecaff!&nbsp; Deeeeeeeeecaf Mommy! DEEEEEEEEEEECAAAAAAAAAAAAAF!!!!"<br /><br />Everyone in the restaurant turned towards me and my child who was requesting "decaf" at the top of her lungs.&nbsp; They probably thought she was jonesing for her morning coffee fix.&nbsp; I could tell they were smiting me in their minds for getting a toddler hooked on coffee.&nbsp; <br /><br />Life is never dull when you have a toddler.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-21621485901432505332011-06-06T09:57:00.000-07:002011-06-06T10:00:43.828-07:002 1/2 recent crafts1.&nbsp; Little Tike's toddler car<br /><br />It's not really a craft, it's more of a fixer-upper. I bought this faded little car for $5 from a yard sale.&nbsp; New, they cost something like $50-$60.&nbsp; I bought Krylon spray paint for plastic, took it apart and painted it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz_46GlgFqA/Te0DL09rJ-I/AAAAAAAAATY/pyYhsO6VV6U/s1600/June+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz_46GlgFqA/Te0DL09rJ-I/AAAAAAAAATY/pyYhsO6VV6U/s320/June+008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>It doesn't look perfect but looks a lot better than it did!&nbsp; Ellie loves it.&nbsp; I let her pick out the colors. Now I'm tempted to buy a john deere sticker for the back.&nbsp; I admit, I didn't think of this renovation on my own--Ellie's babysitter painted one for her son and it looked great.<br /><br /><br />2. Jewelry organizer <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YoZLMEHNZfw/Te0EY4EbnwI/AAAAAAAAATc/oziULwJHa6Y/s1600/June+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YoZLMEHNZfw/Te0EY4EbnwI/AAAAAAAAATc/oziULwJHa6Y/s320/June+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Usually, I throw all of my necklaces and dangle-y earring into a big basket on my dresser.&nbsp; I can never find what I want to wear and they get all tangled.&nbsp; This is a $1 mirror frame from a garage sale (I popped the mirror off of the frame--it was incredibly ugly), spray painted it, and used a staple gun to line the back with chicken wire.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />2 1/2.&nbsp; Cross-stitch project<br /><br />I haven't finished this project yet, but I wanted to brag and show off how far I've gotten.&nbsp; <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/03/biting-off-more-than-i-can-chew.html">This</a> is how far I was in March of 2010.&nbsp; <br /><br />This is what it looks like now.&nbsp; I've been working on it at least three nights a week for the last five months.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUtHheXq0sE/Te0FzgU70kI/AAAAAAAAATk/iFVQDioBXw4/s1600/June+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUtHheXq0sE/Te0FzgU70kI/AAAAAAAAATk/iFVQDioBXw4/s320/June+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Just to give you an idea of how small the stitching is:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vxxJm4WAcnI/Te0FyPkhSkI/AAAAAAAAATg/bgRAj3Obr9I/s1600/June+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vxxJm4WAcnI/Te0FyPkhSkI/AAAAAAAAATg/bgRAj3Obr9I/s320/June+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Oh, and this is what it will hopefully look like when it's done.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.illusionsgallery.com/Heraldic-Chivalry-Mucha-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://www.illusionsgallery.com/Heraldic-Chivalry-Mucha-L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />As I said before, this isn't a craft project, it's a <i>commitment.</i> I don't even want to think of how old Mo-mo will be when I finally finish.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-12814548449394922662011-05-29T18:23:00.000-07:002011-05-29T18:26:52.356-07:00Books I read two months ago.Look what I found in my drafts folder?&nbsp; Yup, forgot to hit "publish" with the list of books I read in April.&nbsp; I'm a slacker.<br /><br />1.&nbsp; The Help by Katherine Stockett<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.verbict.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-help.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.verbict.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-help.jpg" width="131" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I loved this book. If you haven't heard of it, you're living in a literary blackhole.&nbsp; About a young white woman in the South in the 1960's, who decides to write about the life of "the help"--the black women who clean the houses and raise the children of white people.&nbsp; Told from multiple perspectives.&nbsp; Made me cry a couple of times, very bookclub-esque.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. The Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312554176/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399349&amp;creativeASIN=0312554176%22%3EHeart%20of%20the%20Matter%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0312554176&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399349%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://askmissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/heart-of-the-matter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://askmissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/heart-of-the-matter1.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I kept waiting for something more to happen.&nbsp; Man is married, man cheats on his wife, and both his wife and his mistress are decent people.&nbsp; Crazy, right? (insert sarcasm here).&nbsp; The whole book was boring and it never went anywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Spirit Dances by C.E. Murphy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAUjOX74Dqg/TZ4SAlgeqjI/AAAAAAAAB0o/6OE5BFnI_08/s1600/98748571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAUjOX74Dqg/TZ4SAlgeqjI/AAAAAAAAB0o/6OE5BFnI_08/s200/98748571.JPG" width="123" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Good urban fantasy series by C.E. Murphy, about police detective/mechanic-turned-shaman JoAnne Walker.&nbsp; This one was actually one of my favorites.&nbsp; I feel as if the action scenes were much better written than in previous books (they tend to drag on) and the plot moves along nicely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thecaptivereader.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/mr-rosenblum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thecaptivereader.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/mr-rosenblum.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;Historical fiction, inspired by a true story.&nbsp; That "almost a true story" part saves it, makes it more interesting--it's about a Jewish immigrant in England who is obsessed with building his own golf course.&nbsp; It has some nice details but the story drags on for a bit too long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GvLBy_Amp5I/TPbUVrFio6I/AAAAAAAAIu4/6mlwxXvLJBE/s1600/Before+I+Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GvLBy_Amp5I/TPbUVrFio6I/AAAAAAAAIu4/6mlwxXvLJBE/s200/Before+I+Fall.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Young Adult novel, Mean Girls meets Groundhog's Day.&nbsp; Popular, mean, teenager relives the day she dies in a car wreck over and over again until she gets it "right".&nbsp; Enjoyable but repetitive at times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.mylot.com/userImages/images/postphotos/1945907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.mylot.com/userImages/images/postphotos/1945907.jpg" width="121" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;I read this series way back in high school and decided to pick it up again.&nbsp; Unfortunately, I couldn't read the book without picturing <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LWavnF5O8hE/TaFe29HATeI/AAAAAAAAADo/aXmeO7idl5w/s1600/interview-vampire-louis-pointe.jpg">Brad Pitt in a bad wig</a>.&nbsp; Louie's angst is awfully whiny and the narrative style takes away from the story--but still a classic in the vampire-lit genre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwNAurR8rJs/TVVOI_SYNXI/AAAAAAAAAd8/lI5JJZbSxJo/s1600/The+Name+of+the+Wind.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwNAurR8rJs/TVVOI_SYNXI/AAAAAAAAAd8/lI5JJZbSxJo/s200/The+Name+of+the+Wind.JPG" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;I adored this book.&nbsp; Loved it.&nbsp; If you like fantasy at all, pick it up now.&nbsp; Told in flashback, it's the beginning of the story of a legendary and bigger than life man named "Kvothe the Kingkiller"--as he's now settled down in a sedentary life as an innkeeper.&nbsp; He's arrogant, smart and dashing, but makes enough mistakes that you can't really hate him.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">8. The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 2)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t68ar0SFX54/TTIZHldfr9I/AAAAAAAAFw8/uFdzPyHJ_7U/s1600/The+Wise+Man%2527s+Fear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t68ar0SFX54/TTIZHldfr9I/AAAAAAAAFw8/uFdzPyHJ_7U/s200/The+Wise+Man%2527s+Fear.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;See above.&nbsp; Still love it, this one tells the stories of his 20's.&nbsp; Plus the comic Penny Arcade even makes fun of some of Kvothe's...."<a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/4/11/">exploits</a>".&nbsp; Really, not as much of this as this comic would have you believe.&nbsp; A fun, well written series with strong characters and well-written action scenes.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">9. Every Last One by Anne Quinlan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jhsiess.com/wp-content/uploads/EveryLastOne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.jhsiess.com/wp-content/uploads/EveryLastOne.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well-written but dark and depressing.&nbsp; I bought this from the library and didn't realize she's the same author of Black and Blue---good book, but also rather depressing and about domestic abuse.&nbsp; First half of the book sets up the frivolous and minute details about a family (the voice is authentic but are perhaps a bit tedious), and the second half is about how the remaining family members cope after a tragedy strikes.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-21589159648087324712011-05-17T16:28:00.000-07:002011-05-17T16:29:33.276-07:00Engineer friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5692098404_5073129674_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5692098404_5073129674_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Engineers think a bit differently than the rest of us.&nbsp; I mean that in the nicest way.&nbsp; After all, my stepmom is an engineer.<br /><br />I've mentioned my lawyer friend, Shortstuff, on this blog <a href="http://thebestblarg.blogspot.com/2010/09/lawyer-friends.html">before</a>.&nbsp; She's engaged to Tallstuff.&nbsp; He's not only unusually tall, he's also a patent lawyer with an undergraduate degree in engineering.&nbsp; He's incredibly smart and graduated second from his law school class.&nbsp; <br /><br />When Tallstuff helped us move, he spent a half hour arguing with our other lawyer friends about the best way to fit everything in the moving van.&nbsp; (We have a lot of lawyer friends.&nbsp; Which is cool if we ever want to sue someone, I suppose, except none of them are "That Type" of lawyer.&nbsp; However, they are all the type of lawyer that has strong opinions about the best way to load a moving van.)&nbsp; He also wanted to take off our door frame to get our couch out of the living room, despite my repeated assurances that we did not take it off to get the couch in there.<br /><br />Tallstuff is also strangely gullible.&nbsp; We once convinced him that pregnant ladies need a special bathtub, called a "pregnancy tub", and it fit over your normal bathtub and made it bigger. &nbsp; <br /><br />We went to a trivia night with Shortstuff and Tallstuff last weekend.&nbsp; Shortstuff leaned over and whispered to me.&nbsp; "Ask him what time it is."&nbsp; I did.&nbsp; Tallstuff raised one finger to signal for us to wait.&nbsp; He looked at his watch.<br /><br />We waited.&nbsp; And waited some more.<br /><br />"It's 6:34!" he said at last, proudly.<br /><br />Shortstuff sighed.&nbsp; "He keeps his watch set to Greenwich time.&nbsp; Because it's <i>easier</i>."<br /><br />Tallstuff looked offended.&nbsp; "It <i>is </i>easier!&nbsp; What if I forget to reset my watch after daylight savings?&nbsp; This makes a lot more sense and I never have to reset it.&nbsp; Besides, it's gotten a lot easier since I quit trying to move the clock hands mentally in my head and started looking at the time <i>then</i> subtracting the hours."<br /><br />He was dead serious.&nbsp; We spent the rest of the night asking him what time it was.&nbsp; Then snickering.&nbsp; We're such supportive friends.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-31687674224780922342011-04-10T15:51:00.000-07:002011-04-10T15:53:22.492-07:00You're never too young (or too old) to dress up a statue of a goose.A funny thing happened on the way to the park today.&nbsp; Batman, Mo-mo and I saw a statue of a goose...but it was naked.<br /><br />"That's indecent.&nbsp; If you're going to have a statue of a goose, <a href="http://www.gooseclothes.com/">you might as well put some clothes on it</a>," remarked Batman.<br /><br />It was like a light bulb went off in my head.&nbsp; "OH MY GOD.&nbsp; I NEED A STATUE OF A GOOSE, AND I NEED TO DRESS IT UP."<br /><br />"I think you don't meet the minimum age requirements for owning a dress-up goose.&nbsp; There's a rule somewhere that if you're going to buy costumes for a statue, you must be over fifty and also own a Pomeranian named Baby."<br /><br />"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" (Yes, sometimes I talk in all caps.)&nbsp; "I wouldn't put it in <a href="https://www.preciseview.com/goosestore/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=80">Easter dresses</a> or <a href="http://www.gooseclothes.com/Seasonal/Bumble%20Bee.html">bumblebee outfits</a>.&nbsp; That's just weird.&nbsp; I'm thinking about creating tiny little outfits for a resin goose as an homage to some of my favorite fictional characters."<br /><br />Batman made me a deal:&nbsp; If I draw 10 sketches of the goose statue in different suitably awesome costumes, I could get one.&nbsp; And make it outfits.<br /><br />I'm thinking Harry Potter, James T. Kirk, Elvis*, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Wolverine, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Batman**, and Captain Jack Sparrow.&nbsp; <br /><br />While I do not <i>yet</i> have ten sketches of attired geese, I can offer you this one:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4VxuxLWTEg/TaI0aFPLhrI/AAAAAAAAATU/sAidgo2Jgqg/s1600/harry+potter+goose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4VxuxLWTEg/TaI0aFPLhrI/AAAAAAAAATU/sAidgo2Jgqg/s320/harry+potter+goose.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Why yes.&nbsp; This is a goose dressed up as Harry Potter.</i></span></div><br />Next step:&nbsp; Convincing Batman that I need not one, but four geese statues.&nbsp; I could stage elaborate tableaux, including one with Harry Potter Goose, Ron Weasley Goose, Hermione Granger Goose, and the ever-popular Voldemort Goose.&nbsp; Plus, there could be the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-Geese.<br /><br />Maybe I need a new hobby.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><br />*while not fictional, he is awesome enough to warrant dressing up a small goose statue in his honor.<br />** The superhero, not my husband.&nbsp; Although the idea of dressing up a goose statue as my husband does have its merits--mostly that it would probably embarrass him.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-87620394148278948292011-04-05T20:59:00.001-07:002011-04-05T21:18:13.785-07:00Tumblr and I don't get along. And I read a lot.As you, my faithful reader knows, I recently attempted to switch my blog over to Tumblr.&nbsp; It didn't go so hot.<br /><br />I know just enough HTML to pretend like I know what I'm doing but not enough to actually make anything the way I want it to look.&nbsp; In comparison, Blogger is ridiculously easy.<br /><br />All I really wanted to do was change the name of the blog.&nbsp; I called it "The Whole Mommy Thing" when I thought I was going to do one of those cutesie milestone blogs with too many exclamation points.&nbsp; <i>Mo-mo went to the park today!&nbsp; Mo-mo stood up by herself today!&nbsp; Mo-mo composed her first haiku today!</i><br /><br />As I changed my writing style to a more humorous bent, "The Whole Mommy Thing" title didn't really fit anymore.&nbsp; I felt mild pangs of guilt when I didn't actually write about my daughter for several weeks, as if I were depriving her of her time in the spotlight and would permanently scar her psyche in such a manner that she would insist on entering us in mother/daughter beauty pageants when she grew older to compensate. <br /><br />So it's now "The Blarg" because that's shorter than "Crap I write about my life and family and books and try to make occasionally funny but without using too many swear words because all my relatives read it".&nbsp; And it has all of my old entries from "The Whole Mommy Thing" and my brief experiment on Tumblr.<br /><br />And now here's an awkward segue-way to....BOOKS I READ IN MARCH!<br /><br />1. Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.readinasinglesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/outlander-diana-gabaldon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.readinasinglesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/outlander-diana-gabaldon.jpg" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2NFkY9H3kk/TKJ_WSsCCXI/AAAAAAAABgU/zNawcDZS7vM/s1600/0385335970.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2NFkY9H3kk/TKJ_WSsCCXI/AAAAAAAABgU/zNawcDZS7vM/s200/0385335970.jpg" width="131" />&nbsp;</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Time traveling historical fiction romance series.&nbsp; I'm currently reading the third of the series.&nbsp; A WWII nurse gets transported back to the Scottish Highlands in the 1700's.&nbsp; At 600+ pages, there are definitely some slow parts, but all-in-all, it seems to paint a very vivid picture with historical accuracy (including the ugly violent parts). &nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Waking The Witch by Kelley Armstrong (11th in the Women of the Otherworld Series)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nHPn4dz5L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nHPn4dz5L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I just started reading this series a couple of months ago--I had tried before, but hadn't much liked the main characters featured in the first three novels.&nbsp; This definitely wouldn't be the novel to begin with if you're interested in the series.&nbsp; The series is "urban fantasy", about werewolves, necromancers, witches and sorcerers living their lives in secret from normal humans.&nbsp; This particular one features Savannah, a 20-something witch trying to prove herself.&nbsp; I suggest starting with "Bitten", or "Dime Store Magic" (which is all about Savannah's adopted parents).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Pale Demon by Kim Harrison (The Hollows, Book 9)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UHprUGAMD6Y/TTPWoMaziWI/AAAAAAAAB9g/uqtydVntO-8/s320/Pale+Demon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UHprUGAMD6Y/TTPWoMaziWI/AAAAAAAAB9g/uqtydVntO-8/s200/Pale+Demon.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hmmm.&nbsp; On one hand, I love me some Kim Harrison.&nbsp; Her books titles are mostly puns from old western movies, with the word "demon" inserted somewhere in there.&nbsp; On the other hand, I feel as if every single character acted stupid and selfish at least once in this particular novel.&nbsp; Don't get me wrong--it's not terrible, it had some amazing moments (especially with Al and Newt), it just wasn't one of her best.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.littlebrown.co.uk/assets/images/EAN/Medium/9781841496047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.littlebrown.co.uk/assets/images/EAN/Medium/9781841496047.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I chose this book for its cover, just picked it off the shelf at Border's and decided to give it a try.&nbsp; It had potential.&nbsp; The characters were vivid, well-written, and interesting...but the plot was just cobbled together in a hurry with the basic reoccurring elements of a average fantasy novel.&nbsp; Lowly peasant is actually special but no one can't tell him, end of the world coming, prince who lost his magic and trying to reconnect with the people...none of it was particularly thrilling or even new. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Something Real by J.J. Murray</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.johnjeffreymurray.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/webassets/sr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.johnjeffreymurray.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/webassets/sr.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I picked this one up for $.25 from the library, and thought I'd give it a shot.&nbsp; It's an interracial romance book told from the perspective of a black woman (and, strangely enough, written by a white man).&nbsp; It was funny, and the characters were interesting and a lot of the small town mindset was well reflected by the auxiliary characters.&nbsp; It sometimes lacked depth and at times the main character seemed to have meltdowns for no reason, but I was willing to forgive it.&nbsp; I would read more by this author.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51b-IJHEaHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51b-IJHEaHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">My stepmother summarized this book for me when she loaned it to me:&nbsp; "It's like a supernatural fiction written by someone who has never actually read a supernatural fiction."&nbsp; Nothing actually happens and the characters are lame stereotypes (a sexy vampire?&nbsp; Who would have ever thought of that?)&nbsp; I stuck with the book until the bitter end because I kept thinking that the action had to come soon...but it never did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">8. The Search by Nora Roberts</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519wqEixqvL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519wqEixqvL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I will say this for Nora Robert books: they are comfortable.&nbsp; There will never be any true plot twists, in that you always know that the guy will get the girl in the end (sometime after they resolve some personal emotional conflict which prevents them from telling each other I love you).&nbsp; This particular one was kind of neat because it was about a woman who trained search and rescue dogs, and I thought some of the details about that were interesting. &nbsp;&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">9. Hiroshima by John Hersey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B_BLWR8t_E0/TMq7pF1zPzI/AAAAAAAACmI/IXPzDYtZxs0/s320/hiroshima.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B_BLWR8t_E0/TMq7pF1zPzI/AAAAAAAACmI/IXPzDYtZxs0/s200/hiroshima.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, this is definitely not my typical book, but I thought it was fascinating.&nbsp; It's a nonfiction book that follows the events of the Hiroshima from the perspective of six individuals who survived the bomb.&nbsp; It was absolutely heart-wrenching to read and painted a clear picture of the atrocities of nuclear war.&nbsp; It includes an update of the six individuals 40 years later.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">10. Blackout by Rob Thurman (Cal Leandros, Book 6)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eUod573DL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eUod573DL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I've always liked this series but I thought that this one was particular good.&nbsp; This series is about two brothers who fight monsters, with one of them being part "monster" himself.&nbsp; The main character, Cal, awakes with no recollection of who he is.&nbsp; While this premise sounds hackneyed, it did a great job of exploring the way Cal and his brother Nick use each other to define who they truly are.&nbsp; Most supernatural writers fall into the trap of writing the same sort of story over and over again but with a slightly different bad guys.&nbsp; I think that Rob Thurman did an excellent job in actually giving the readers something new but utterly believable.</div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-14857700421135368382011-04-05T19:00:00.001-07:002011-04-05T19:00:28.471-07:003 things I've been wondering about vampires.Do you ever think about vampires?<br /><br />I know that there are a lot of ladies out there nodding their heads, leering, making suggestive gestures and saying something like “Edward can bust my headboard any day.”&nbsp; And no, this blarg entry is definitely not going to be about that.*<br /><br />As an aficionado of horror films, supernatural fiction, and graphic novels** there are a couple of things I’ve been wondering about vampires.<br /><br /><br />1.&nbsp; The Mirror<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTInbKJjrcw/TZvI07wLDpI/AAAAAAAAATM/NEYUJxzGBqI/s1600/no+reflection+done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTInbKJjrcw/TZvI07wLDpI/AAAAAAAAATM/NEYUJxzGBqI/s320/no+reflection+done.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />So vampires can’t see their own reflection.&nbsp; Which has to be hard, because you can’t do your hair or your make-up.&nbsp; I know these creatures of the night are supposed to have perfect skin, perfect lips, blah blah blah, so they probably don’t need undereye concealer even if their vampiric baby woke up every two hours because she’s teething. Or because their vampiric baby woke up with an overwhelming thirst for blood.&nbsp; You know, whatever.<br /><br />But if they don’t need make-up, why do all the wannabe vampires look like they drowned rats with too much eyeliner and awful black lipstick?<br /><br />Plus, paradoxically, vampires do show up on camera.&nbsp; Which means that by extension, they show up on video camera.&nbsp; Which means that they show up on a web-camera.&nbsp; No, I’m not suggesting that vampires should use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatroulette">chat roulette</a>.***<br /><br />If vampire reflections show up on web-cameras, they could just use the feed from their computer as a mirror.<br /><em>&nbsp;</em>I have just solved one of the greatest conundrums of the vampire population.&nbsp; Vampires everywhere, <em>you’re welcome.&nbsp;&nbsp; </em><em><br /></em><br /><em>&nbsp; </em><br /><br />2. The bite<br /><br />Everyone knows what the vampire’s bite looks like: two round holes trickling a bit of blood on a beautiful lady’s neck, usually with an obligatory shot of too much cleavage.<br /><br />How in the world do they make that bite mark?&nbsp; Wouldn’t they their bottom teeth also make a mark?&nbsp; I can think of two possibilities:<br /><br />a) Their jaws can unhinge, like a snake.&nbsp; If this were the case, we probably would have heard the locker room version of male vampire talk. <em>Didja hear what Elspeth the Dark can do with her mouth?&nbsp; They don’t call her “The Devourer” because her thirst for blood!</em><br /><br />b) They look very, very, very dumb when they try to bite people.&nbsp; A vampire would have to stick out their front teeth as far as they could as if they had a horrible overbite and then gingerly bit the neck with the top fangs only.&nbsp; Here’s my artistic interpretation of what one would look like in mid-bite:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYLXmEbe0Oc/TZvJCIHhpwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/PvjCdJ8arHo/s1600/stupid.vamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYLXmEbe0Oc/TZvJCIHhpwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/PvjCdJ8arHo/s320/stupid.vamp.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><br />Yes.&nbsp; That would totally be hot.<br /><br /><br />3. Attraction to underage females<br /><br />Listen to this with an open mind:<br />A twenty year old guy becomes obsessed with a high school girl.&nbsp; He stalks her, secretly follows her around, and stares at her all the time.&nbsp; He is convinced that she, and only she, is his true soul mate.&nbsp; He’s worried that he’s going to hurt her, but ultimately urges her to defy convention and give in to their feelings of passion and lust.<br /><br />This. Is. Creepy.&nbsp; I’d be calling the cops on this sicko.&nbsp; Sounds like an episode of the Jerry Springer Show.&nbsp; Now replace “twenty year old guy” with “two hundred year old vampire”…and suddenly the situation is somehow transformed to being romantic.<br /><br />And why teenage girls?&nbsp; Have you ever been around teenage girls for any length of time?&nbsp; They are awful.&nbsp; That includes me.&nbsp; I would rather poke my eye out with a fork than read my diaries from high school, they are that bad.&nbsp; Teenage girls are whiny, mopey, prone to sudden mood swings, and VERY giggly.&nbsp; As plants thrive on sunshine, teenage girls thrive on drama and backstabbery.****&nbsp; This does not sound like a fun way to spend eternal life to me. &nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><br />———————————————————————————-<br />*Because I’m TEAM JACOB.<br />**Graphic novels are totally different from comic books.&nbsp; SHUT UP THEY TOTALLY ARE.<br />***I am linking the chat roulette explanation from wikipedia for the older family members of mine.&nbsp; DISCLAIMER: DO NOT TRY ACTUAL CHAT ROULETTE unless you want to see male genitalia.&nbsp; I’ve never tried it, I swear.&nbsp; I’ve just heard stories. <br />****You can wordify anything if you just verb it.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-40833284480520865952011-04-05T18:57:00.001-07:002011-04-05T18:57:25.690-07:00Welcome back, me.Hello folks.&nbsp; Nope, this isn’t The Whole Mommy Thing.&nbsp; This is an entirely new, awesome, ground-breaking, riveting, blog.&nbsp; Or blarg, if you will.<br /><br />And by entirely new and ground-breaking, I mean it probably will be very similar to my old blog, but with more poop jokes.&nbsp; I am in the middle of potty-training, after all.<br /><br />So why the long hiatus?&nbsp; I got busy.&nbsp; I was working long hours for my job and didn’t have the time to keep up with writing.&nbsp; I missed it and considered sporadically updating but I feel like if you’re going to have a blog, you should do it right.&nbsp; So this is my attempt at “doing it right”.<br /><br />(Deduct -10 points from your maturity quotient if you just thought <em>that’s what she said</em> and snickered to yourself.&nbsp; I know I did.)<br /><br />I am currently battling <em>homemade-itis.&nbsp; </em>Somehow I got it into my mind that if I bake something from scratch, it’s not pathetic if I eat it all.&nbsp; Eating 4 bags of double-stuff Oreos in two weeks?&nbsp; Gross and pathetic.&nbsp; Eating 4 batches of homemade cookies in two weeks?&nbsp; Kudos to me for baking.&nbsp; I must be freakin’ supermom.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RkMBWa9A_s0/TZvIRyHbMNI/AAAAAAAAATI/dAYNGMcotbE/s1600/housewife3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RkMBWa9A_s0/TZvIRyHbMNI/AAAAAAAAATI/dAYNGMcotbE/s320/housewife3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Even worse, this baking binge started out as an attempt to make thank-you cookies for the next door neighbor, who gave us her daughter’s old Dora the Explorer dollhouse.&nbsp; Somehow the cookies haven’t lasted long enough for me to put them on a plate and walk next door.&nbsp; First, I’ll eat a couple because they’re just out of the oven.&nbsp; Then, I have exactly enough to put on a plate and bring them over—but I can’t resist eating one more.&nbsp; Then I say <em>screw it</em> and finish them all off because I know I can always make more.<br /><br />I call my latest batch of cookies <em>“I need an excuse to eat Reese’s peanut butter cups because they have the giant egg ones at the store for Easter and those things are amazing but may cause me to go into a diabetic coma”.&nbsp; </em><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Cup-Cookies/Detail.aspx">Here’s the recipe</a>.&nbsp; I’m warning you, they’re dangerous.<br /><br />And I don’t think my neighbors are going to get any of them.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-63043401868396542632010-10-20T19:21:00.000-07:002011-04-05T18:44:59.490-07:00books I read in September1.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Haven-Rain-Wilds-Chronicles/dp/0061931411?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Dragon Haven (Rain Wilds Chronicles, Vol. 2)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0061931411" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Robin Hobb (book one mentioned <a href="http://thewholemommything.blogspot.com/2010/04/10-books-i-read-in-march.html">here</a>).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Haven-Rain-Wilds-Chronicles/dp/0061931411?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Dragon Haven (Rain Wilds Chronicles, Vol. 2)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0061931411&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0061931411" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></div>While not a bad story, it's seems to be lacking when compared to the Farseer or Fool series by Hobb.&nbsp; Maybe we have too many characters to get to as invested--but at least it's not as drearily bleak and depressing as the Soldier Son series.&nbsp; It has all the elements of a good fantasy novel and she brings them together in a satisfactory manner:&nbsp; dragons, outcasts, a quest, a forbidden love. &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />2.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Truthseeker-C-E-Murphy/dp/0345516060?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Truthseeker</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0345516060" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by C. E. Murphy <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Truthseeker-C-E-Murphy/dp/0345516060?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Truthseeker" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0345516060&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0345516060" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></div>&nbsp;C.E. Murphy likes to weave the modern with fantasy:&nbsp; her series The Walker Files is about a policewoman who suddenly that she has shamanistic powers, and her Negotiator series is about a lawyer who finds herself playing referee to the different races of the world (think dragon, gargoyle, selkie, etc.).&nbsp; Along the same vein, this book is about a tailor who always knows the truth and is sought out by a prince of Fairie.&nbsp; Satisfying read, good book, but I really can't see it being turned into a compelling series. &nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />3.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thirteenth-Child-Frontier-Magic-Patricia/dp/0545033454?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Thirteenth Child (Frontier Magic)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0545033454" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Patricia Wrede<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thirteenth-Child-Frontier-Magic-Patricia/dp/0545033454?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Thirteenth Child (Frontier Magic)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0545033454&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0545033454" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />&nbsp;</div>Juvenile fantasy novel set in an alternative pioneer world about a thirteenth daughter who has always been told she's bad at heart, and her twin who is the seventh son of the seventh son.&nbsp; Vaguely reminiscence of Orson Scott Card's Seventh Son series, the story starts of strong but peters out towards the end.&nbsp; Not nearly as good as some of her earlier work.<br /><br />4.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-Stieg-Larsson/dp/0307454541?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0307454541" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Stieg Larsson<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-Stieg-Larsson/dp/0307454541?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0307454541&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0307454541" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></div>The first time I tried to read this book, I got about 50 pages in and put in down because it felt too detailed oriented and didn't hold my attention.&nbsp; When I picked it up two months later, I read it in about two days.&nbsp; I'm excited to read the next books--my favorite character by far is the actual girl with the dragon tattoo, and she's a much bigger characters in the next series.&nbsp; Summary:&nbsp; Publicly shamed Swedish journal investigates the history of a wealthy family to search for a killer.&nbsp; <br /><br />5. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summer-House-Novel-Nancy-Thayer/dp/0345498216?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Summer House: A Novel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0345498216" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Nancy Thayer<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summer-House-Novel-Nancy-Thayer/dp/0345498216?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Summer House: A Novel" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0345498216&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0345498216" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The story of three generations of women and their loves--the grandmother and story of her relationship with her husband during WWII told as flashback, the mother who is struggling to forgive her cheating husband, and the daughter who is trying not to settle for a man.&nbsp; While the writing was pretty strong and the characters engaging, there just wasn't quite enough to turn it from pretty good to great.&nbsp; The character of Charlotte, the daughter, was especially one-dimensional and annoying.&nbsp; </div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-85694950045911370482010-10-14T18:11:00.000-07:002011-04-05T18:44:59.501-07:00Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal: The New Musical FruitIf you do not think that passing gas is funny, then this is not the blog post for you.&nbsp; You have my permission to go <a href="http://www.nasdaq.com/">here</a> instead and do responsible, grown-up things like checking stock prices.<br /><br />.....<br /><br />Okay, if you're still reading, I'm going to presume you're like me and twelve year old boys:&nbsp; We all think that farting is funny.<br /><br />I've been trying to eat healthier.&nbsp; I've gained five pounds since starting my new job because all I do is sit at a desk, work, and snack.&nbsp; "I don't understand it," I complained as I scarfed down bags of M&amp;M's and destroyed some double-stuff Oreos.&nbsp; "Why am I gaining so much weight?"<br /><br /><i> </i><br />I bought a big box of Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal in an attempt to not become a giant quivering pile of Jello, because you all know how I <a href="http://thewholemommything.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-star-wars-less-cardio.html">feel about exercising</a>.<br /><br /><i>"It's healthy!"&nbsp; </i>I thought.&nbsp; <i>"It even has the word lean in the name!&nbsp;&nbsp; This plan can't go wrong."</i><br /><br />(insert evil laugh here) <br /><br />Little did I know that Kashi Go Lean Crunch would better be named Big Tasty Bowl of Toots.&nbsp; The first day I ate a huge bowl for breakfast.&nbsp; Two hours later, almost to the dot, I had gas.&nbsp; Horrible gas.&nbsp; Like, quivering-to-hold-it-in-because-I'm-at-work-and-turns-into-one-minute-farts-when-I-can-let-it-out gas.&nbsp; Luckily on the stinkiness factor, it was oddly odorless.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Stupid me, I didn't make the connection the first day.&nbsp; So I ate a huge bowl the next day.&nbsp; The same thing happened.&nbsp; I'm fairly certain my officemates hate me now, and I don't even have a dog handy to blame it on. <br /><br />By the third day I started to figure out something was wrong.&nbsp; My husband was worried about me and feared I was getting an ulcer because I would complain of a stomachache every afternoon (which sounds better than saying my colon hurts). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freemania.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/kashi-go-lean-crisp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.freemania.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/kashi-go-lean-crisp.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Mmmm!&nbsp; Now with more flatuence!</i></span></div><br />I stopped eating the cereal, and lo and behold, my flatulence problem disappeared.&nbsp; I've googled it and apparently it's quite a common problem.&nbsp; There are web pages and blog entries like <a href="http://www.girlinmotion.com/kashi-go-fart">this one</a> devoted to telling the story of Kashi:&nbsp; The New Musical Fruit.&nbsp; There are people who thought they had a serious medical condition until they found out that no, it's just their cereal.&nbsp; There's one woman who describes how in attempt to be healthy, she ate a huge bowl and then went to her first yoga class.&nbsp; Hilarity ensued. <br /><br />The worst part about it is that it's quite tasty.&nbsp; I would have happily used it as a snacking food along with eating it for breakfast.&nbsp;&nbsp; I've even tried eating half a bowl, hoping that if I started off with small amounts, my body would get used to it.&nbsp; My body most vehemently did not get used to it.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />When I told my family about this, they all 1) wanted to try it and 2) wanted me to give some to my brother. <br /><br />Wait, what?&nbsp; I guess it's like the reaction when you try something so horrible that you just have to share it--the "here, try this, it's gross" factor.<br /><br />As for the second part, the males of my family are pretty naturally gaseous.&nbsp; I grew up thinking that guys farted all the time.&nbsp; Giving Kashi to my brother, Meat, would be like adding gasoline to a fire.&nbsp; A very stinky fire.<br /><br />Some people blame the chicory root, others the soy powder, and still others the vast amounts of fiber.&nbsp; Whatever it is, I know that I shall no longer be eating Kashi Go Lean cereal.&nbsp; I will close with this aptly appropriate <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/10304/saturday-night-live-colon-blow">link</a> to an SNL commercial for a cereal called "Colon Blow".&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />I guess it's back to double-stuffed Oreos for me.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-63990084638333324362010-10-10T16:54:00.000-07:002011-04-05T18:44:59.504-07:00My first quilt blocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wO92X4XKUA0/TLJQqv559jI/AAAAAAAAASE/jCm4P8hAN30/s1600/quilt+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wO92X4XKUA0/TLJQqv559jI/AAAAAAAAASE/jCm4P8hAN30/s400/quilt+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />I've finished 3 out of the 9 blocks for my first quilt.&nbsp; I only have 2 more to do of this particular star pattern, then I switch to doing ones with a bunch of squares and rectangles.&nbsp; <br /><br />See my progress?&nbsp; The first block I made turned out wonky.&nbsp; By the third one, it's almost pretty.<br /><br />I'm enjoying it so far. Strangely enough, I thought I'd be doing it with my sewing machine, but I wanted to be able to do something when I "watch" TV (I use that word very loosely as I tend to just listen to it).&nbsp; So this small quilt is going to be entirely hand-pieced.<br /><br />As I've mentioned, I'm learning this from a book.&nbsp; I'm good up until the point where all of the pieces are put together and somehow, magically, it gets batting and backing...yeah, I have no idea how to do that.&nbsp; The book wasn't quite clear enough for me.&nbsp; I'm going to have to track down an expert or go to a quilt store and try and find a kindly person to help me out.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-17465292464655290032010-10-05T18:30:00.000-07:002011-04-05T18:44:59.507-07:00Defining the Mommy: Identity and Parenting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wO92X4XKUA0/TKvTNEPQDDI/AAAAAAAAAR8/9C2olEZOabE/s1600/July+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wO92X4XKUA0/TKvTNEPQDDI/AAAAAAAAAR8/9C2olEZOabE/s320/July+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wO92X4XKUA0/TKvEEFtVacI/AAAAAAAAAR4/kmvGLYgJkY0/s1600/identity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><br />On a work retreat, we wrote down what we wanted to be when we grew up on a slip of paper, then we guessed who wrote what.&nbsp; I wrote that I had wanted to be an author/illustrator, a marine biologist, a veterinarian, and a colonist on Mars. <br /><br />One of my coworkers wrote that she had wanted to be mom and a midwife.&nbsp; Every single coworker<i> </i>guessed that the mom and midwife was my choice.&nbsp; <br /><br />Not a huge deal, but this small incident got me thinking about my identity as a mommy.&nbsp; Why did the people at work automatically equate me to motherhood, and not to anything else?&nbsp; Admittedly, I was the only mother there--but there is another coworker who has babysat the same children for years and loves kids, and another whose predilections towards yoga and vegetarianism make her the perfect fit as wanting to be a midwife. <br /><br />At work, I talk a lot about Mo-mo, but I also talk about Batman, my friends, my family, my pets, my hobbies, my interests.&nbsp; I've had conversations with at least two of my coworkers about what we'd do if we won the lottery.&nbsp; I said that I would still want to work at least three days a week because I love interacting and working.<br />&nbsp; <br />There are amazing, intelligent, women who are able to find fulfillment in devoting themselves to their home and their family without working outside of the home.&nbsp; I am not one of them.&nbsp; I could do it, but I know I would not be happy doing it long term.&nbsp; In some ways, I feel as if I have to apologize for that.&nbsp; But I'm also quite proud of my achievements and never want to sell myself short for all that I accomplish.<br /><br />If I define myself through my work, but my work defines me through my motherhood, who does that make me?<br /><br />My office place is made up of mostly women in their 20's and 30's.&nbsp; Very few of us have children.&nbsp; The organization is trying to become a more welcoming place for families, so those of us with kids are the guinea pigs.&nbsp; I've worked it out with my boss so that I come in early and I leave early and spend more of the late afternoon with Mo-mo.&nbsp; If I work during an evening, I come in late so that I can at least eat breakfast with her.&nbsp; My boss is both encouraging and supportive and wants to create a welcoming, family-friendly environment.<br /><br />But how does this effect the way my coworkers see me?&nbsp; Do they see a woman working hard at juggling it all, or do they just see the mommy always putting her child first? <br /><br />I'm not going to pretend I'm not a mother.&nbsp; I love Mo-mo too much and it <i>is</i> a big part of who I am.&nbsp; Nor am I going to resist being labeled just a mom.&nbsp; You know what?&nbsp; A mom is an amazing thing to be.&nbsp; There should be no "just" about it.<br /><br />All I can really do is work hard and learn fast.&nbsp; I'll continue to play the balancing game that all working mothers seem to do, and be proud of my accomplishments in both parenting and at work.Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-8819036686460975792010-10-03T19:34:00.000-07:002011-04-05T18:44:59.513-07:00The Picky Eater and the Battle of the Wills, Momma vs. Toddler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/i/ip/iprole/1290601_salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/i/ip/iprole/1290601_salad.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A lot of parenting seems to be fairly easy.&nbsp; Keep them safe.&nbsp; Tell them they're loved.&nbsp; Expand their world.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then, of course, there are the parts that aren't.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have a bonafide picky eater.&nbsp; Not only is Mo-mo picky, but she doesn't let us feed her.&nbsp; She stopped at 10 months.&nbsp; That's right, as soon as she started on finger food, she absolutely refused to eat anything that we give her directly.&nbsp; She'll clamp her mouth shut and start to scream if we are persistent. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Up until last week, we've been doing the bad-wussy-parent thing of giving her a special meal of things we knew she'd like.&nbsp; We'd give her our regular meal first, she wouldn't eat it, then we'd give her things like fruit, bread, cheese, and peanut butter:&nbsp; the staples of toddler life.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This pattern is okay for a baby but not for a toddler.&nbsp; And as much as I don't want to admit it, my daughter is old enough to learn bad habits.&nbsp; And she's learning that if she doesn't eat what we give her, she just has to wait ten minutes and we'll give her exactly what she wants.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I refuse to have a child who only eats PB&amp;J at age seven, or who always gets a special meal made for her.&nbsp; It's just not happening.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So Batman and I are being hardcore meanies.&nbsp; She only gets what we eat.&nbsp; We're cutting down on the snacks.&nbsp; If she doesn't eat, we're not going to make a big deal out of it, but we're only going to offer her what we had for dinner.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let me tell you this:&nbsp; it's hard.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First of all, she's so damn cute when she asks for "gapes" or "fish" (grapes and goldfish).&nbsp; And it's so damn hard to change a pattern.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Second of all, I worry about her weight.&nbsp; She's in the 96th percentile for height and only the 25th for weight.&nbsp; The pediatrician said to offer her higher calorie options of things, like adding cheese to broccoli.&nbsp; (And yes, if you're curious, I did ask the pediatrician her opinion about this.&nbsp; She said that it's better to clamp down and be strict now than try and do it later, when bad habits are firmly established.&nbsp; And that Mo-mo will eat if she's hungry once she figures out she doesn't get anything else.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is especially hard because I was a picky eater.&nbsp; My parents are divorced, and my mom and my dad had two very different parenting styles.&nbsp; My mom let me eat whatever I wanted, and it was invariably chicken nuggets, taquitos, and the occasional bomb pop.&nbsp; My dad made me eat whatever was for dinner.&nbsp; I always had to at least try the food and finish the portion on the plate.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As I was growing up, I much preferred my mom's relaxed feeding style.&nbsp; But as an adult, I understand why my dad was so strict. &nbsp;<br /><br />Being responsible?&nbsp; No fun at all. </div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-25922307609394679432010-09-27T18:11:00.000-07:002011-04-05T18:44:59.519-07:00Lawyer friends.<i><br /></i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/lawyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/lawyer.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i>Calling my friend Shortstuff:&nbsp;&nbsp;</i><br /><i>&nbsp;</i><i> </i><br /><i>Me:&nbsp; </i>Hey girl!<br /><i> </i><br /><i>Shortstuff:&nbsp; </i>Hey Bee!&nbsp; I was just thinking about you.<br /><br /><i>Me:&nbsp; </i>Awww, that's sweet.&nbsp;<br /><br /><i>Shortstuff:&nbsp; </i>Yeah, I'm getting the paperwork together to write up your will and your <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_of_attorney">durable power of attorney</a> forms in case of a health emergency.&nbsp; So really I was just thinking about you in a coma or dead.<br /><br /><i>Me:&nbsp; ...</i><br /><br /><i>Shortstuff:&nbsp; </i>Sorry, was that creepy?Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035146235331315716.post-76077171967673040702010-09-26T18:17:00.000-07:002011-04-05T18:44:59.522-07:00Books I Read in cough cough coughHere's the list of books I read in <i>coughcoughcoughavoideyecontact</i> August.&nbsp; Yeah, give me a break, I know it's already almost October. Better late than never, I always say.<br /><br />Unless we're talking about an annual swarm of killer bees.&nbsp; Then I say better never than ever.<br /><br />I have a platitude for every occasion.&nbsp; <br /><br />1.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rat-Fernanda-Eberstadt/dp/0307271838?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Rat</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0307271838" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Fernada Eberstadt<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rat-Fernanda-Eberstadt/dp/0307271838?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Rat" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0307271838&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0307271838" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>While not wildly intricate or complex, this story about a 15 year old French girl is nevertheless well-written with interesting characters and story plot.&nbsp; When "Rat" finds out that her adopted brother is being molested by her mom's boyfriend and her mother doesn't believe them, she and her brother set off to England to find Rat's biological father.&nbsp; I wish this novel was almost 100 pages longer, as the author occasionally changed character perspective, and I feel as if she could have done that more often and given the story a bit of fleshing out.<br /><br /><br />2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-Georgia-ebook/dp/B000JMKSB0?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Between, Georgia</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B000JMKSB0" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Joshilyn Jackson<br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-Georgia-ebook/dp/B000JMKSB0?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Between, Georgia" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=B000JMKSB0&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B000JMKSB0" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0446699454" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></div><br />By the same author of "Gods In Alabama", this novel is similar in the heavily southern story line and quirky set of characters.&nbsp; Told in the first person by Nonny Frett, this book is about the ties of family, both the ones you were born into and the ones you create for yourself.&nbsp; I'd definitely recommend this novel to people who enjoy&nbsp; the "quirky and realistic" genre like authors Billie Letts and Joanne Mapson, and I'd love to read more books by this author.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />3. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/House-Many-Diana-Wynne-Jones/dp/0061477974?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">House of Many Ways</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0061477974" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Diana Wynne Jones<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/House-Many-Diana-Wynne-Jones/dp/0061477974?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="House of Many Ways" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0061477974&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0061477974" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;A sequel to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Howls-Moving-Castle-Diana-Wynne/dp/0061478784?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Howl's Moving Castle</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0061478784" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />-- so don't just start with this one (Howl's Moving Castle was actually made into a fairly decent anime film by Miyazaki of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke fame if you're into that sort of thing).&nbsp; Young adult fantasy fiction, not quite as good as the first but still fun.<br /><br /><br />4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Poison-Arcane-Society/dp/051514777X?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">The Perfect Poison (Arcane Society)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=051514777X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Amanda Quick<br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Poison-Arcane-Society/dp/051514777X?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The Perfect Poison (Arcane Society)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=051514777X&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=051514777X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></div>&nbsp;Amanda Quick is the pseudonym for romance author Jayne Anne Krentz when she writes (and I use this word incredibly loosely) "historical" romances.&nbsp; It's a junk food book:&nbsp; comforting, you know exactly what to expect, but no real substance.&nbsp; This is one of the Arcane Society books, which revolves around a secret society of psychically talented individuals in regency England (and you can read about their descendants in some of her novels under the name Krentz). &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br /><br />5. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Digging-America-Anne-Tyler/dp/B0027IQB8S?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Digging to America</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0027IQB8S" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Anne Tyler&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Digging-America-Anne-Tyler/dp/B0027IQB8S?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Digging to America" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=B0027IQB8S&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0027IQB8S" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;This is a story of two very different families who adopt babies from Korea, one of typical white-bread Americans and one of Iranian-Americans, and it deals with issues of identity and outsiderness.&nbsp; It focuses mostly on Maryam Yazdan, the Iranian grandmother, but we get snippets of insight from almost everyone involved.&nbsp; Well written with detailed character description, I definitely enjoyed it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>6. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Creatures-Tracy-Chevalier/dp/0525951458?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Remarkable Creatures</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0525951458" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Tracy Chevalier<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Creatures-Tracy-Chevalier/dp/0525951458?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Remarkable Creatures" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0525951458&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0525951458" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chevalier also wrote "The Girl With The Pearl Earring", and this historically inspired novel focuses on the friendship of two female fossil hunters.&nbsp; As one is a moderately well-to-do spinster and the other a working class girl, Chevalier does a fantastic job illustrating how both gender and social inequality plays into their friendship and their lives without ramming it down your throat. &nbsp; </div><br /><br />7. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Carpe-Demon-Adventures-Demon-Hunting-Soccer/dp/0515142212?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Book 1)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0515142212" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Julie Kenner<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Carpe-Demon-Adventures-Demon-Hunting-Soccer/dp/0515142212?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom (Book 1)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0515142212&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0515142212" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;Imagine Buffy the Vampire Slayer all grown up and trying to live a normal life in the suburbs with her kids and normal husband but demons start busting into her front window---and you get the premise of this book.&nbsp; Cheesy but fun, I've been searching in vain for the next one and will soon have to give in and just order it online.</div><br /><br />8.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mockingjay-Final-Book-Hunger-Games/dp/0545310601?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) - Library Edition</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0545310601" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Suzanne Collins<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mockingjay-Final-Book-Hunger-Games/dp/0545310601?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) - Library Edition" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0545310601&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0545310601" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">Have I mentioned that I love these books?&nbsp; <a href="http://thewholemommything.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-love-thee-juvenile-fiction.html">Oh wait, I have</a>.&nbsp; I stayed up until 2 a.m. reading this book the day it came in the mail.&nbsp; Great ending:&nbsp; real. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </div><br /><br />9.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Noahs-Compass-ebook/dp/B002XHNOO2?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Noah's Compass</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B002XHNOO2" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Anne Tyler<br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Noahs-Compass-Anne-Tyler/dp/0307272400?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Noah's Compass" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=0307272400&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0307272400" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">I liked&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Digging-America-Anne-Tyler/dp/B0027IQB8S?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thewhomomthi-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Digging to America</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thewhomomthi-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0027IQB8S" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> so much that I wanted to read some of Tyler's other books, so I picked this one up at the library.&nbsp; While well-written and in-depth characterization, nothing really happens in the entire book.&nbsp; It's the story of an elderly guy with a quiet life.&nbsp; Not exactly a thrilling page turner. &nbsp; </div>Beth C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00195383682563841514noreply@blogger.com2